A coastal walk

We spent a few days with our families in Avalon and I had the opportunity to do a coastal walk which is part to the Palm Beach to North Head coastal walk.
I started off from our daughter's family home where I started off my photos with a Rainbow Lorikeet portrait.

My route took me past the park where the resident Fruit Bat colony is hanging out much to the annoyance of their neighbours who have to put up with the smell and noise.

No other distractions before I reached my starting point at the beach at North Avalon where the tide was out exposing the rocks along to the north point.

Surf was very ordinary but one keen surfer was getting the most out of what was available.

A perfect day to be on the beach enjoying the sun, but I was heading off to do the planned walk.

The Bangalley Headland is between Avalon Beach on the south and Whale Beach to the north and the walking track commences at the low point saddle in the cliff line.

Looking south to North Avalon headland

Looking north to the point of the bay before the cliff turns towards Whale Beach

The swell pounding into the rocks at the base of the cliff

It is a good time to do this walk as the spring wildflowers should be near their best and the walk varies between coastal heath to sandstone woodland. A Banksia integrifolia is one of the key small trees found along the way.

The Sydney sandstone habitat is key to many flora species and Grevillea sericea, Pink Spider Flower is one commonly found throughout.

The Fabacea e family is also well represented on sandstone country and the following Pultenaea daphoides is one of the most attractive with the cluster of flowers at the tips of the branches.

The flowers on the Hakea sericea are quite small and past for this season but the woody seed capsule is very promient and a notable feature of the shrub. Like many of the Proteaceae family the seed capsules are adapted to withstand a bushfire and then burst open once the fire is past. The seeds dropped into the ash are ready to sprout at the next rain.

 

One of the Guinea Flower family , Hibertia dentata, Twining Guinea Flower is a small vine that prefers the shaded understorey where the buttercup yellow flowers stand out as bright beacons.

 

As the track climbs higherlooking back towards Avalon Beach you gain a view down the coast to Manly.

 

Another of the climbers Pandorea pandorana, Wonga Wonga Vine is quite vigorous and the tubular flowers can provide a spectacular display. It is popular as a garden plant and many colour variations have been bred as cultivars.

 

The Flannel Flower, Actinotus helianthi is one of the most loved native plants and very popular as a cut flower therefore is widely grown for the florist trade. They thrive on the sandstone country and along the coast in the coastal heath areas where they often provide a mass display.

 

 

At the highest point the view to the north is past the Whale Beach headlands to Barrenjoey Head at the northern end of Palm Beach, then across Broken Bay to the Central Coast.

The weathering of the sandstone cliffs leaves attractive openings and glimpses through to the sea 116m below.

This flower is deserving of its common name Handsome Flat-pea Platylobium formosum a small shrub of the understorey. Another plant with beautiful pea flowers is the climber Hardenbergia violacea.

This dragonfly was very well disguised amongst the leaf litter.

The walking track decends on the western side of the ridge and the vegetation is more sheltered, conditions that this fine clump of maiden-hair fern appreciates.

A large termite nest on the eucalyptus was having a nest site worked upon which I assume was by a pair of Kookaburras that were nearby.

 

Termite nests are also used by rosellas such as theis Crimson Rosella which was further along on the loop track that was taking me back to my start point.

 

From this western part of the track there are some nice views across Careel Bay on the Pittwater.

This sandstone overhang shows the weathering and the lovely colours that are exposed. Shelters such as this were used by the Guringai who were the original people of this area.

This interesting small shrub Isopgon amemonifolius is one of the Drumstick genus so named for the woody cones that follow the flowering.

The following are the female and male plants of Allocasuarina distyla a bushy shrub that is common on the coastal heathland.

A couple of young grasstrees Xanthorrhoea (species?)

Almost back to the start point and views back over Avalon Beach and the coastal suburbs of the northern beaches.

The telephoto shot shows Sydney CBD in the background.

 

Native Daphne or Sweet Pittostorum Pittostorum undulatum in flower has a very sweet perfume which is very noticable in the evening air.

I don't know this plant and haven't been able to identify

Banksia ericafolia had finished flowering and the brush starting to dry out the last plant at the end of the walk.

The final photo is the inflorecence of an Alexander palm the was in a street planting.
I spent some three enjoyable hours and it is a walk worth doing , particularly in Spring.